Plastic ties strung across road called 'a murder waiting to happen'

Police say it is lucky no one has been killed by plastic zip ties strung together across a Framingham street - right at neck level for a motorcyclist or bicyclist.

Norman Miller

Police say it is lucky no one has been killed by plastic zip ties strung together across a Framingham street - right at neck level for a motorcyclist or bicyclist.

The ties were discovered Monday at 9:55 p.m. and Tuesday at 9:13 p.m. across Grove Street by Belknap Road, police spokesman Lt. Paul Shastany said. In each instance the ties were removed by police after they were found.

"It's a murder waiting to happen," said Shastany. "It's a top priority for us to find who is doing this. The consequences of this could be shocking."

Zip ties are thick pieces of plastic used to tie or secure items. The plastic can be locked at the end.

The ties were linked together so they would reach across the road, and were 4 to 5 feet off the ground.

If someone was riding fast enough, he or she could be seriously injured, Shastany said.

A witness on Tuesday told police she saw a man standing near a telephone pole with a cord strung from a telephone pole to a tree.

When she questioned the suspect, he mumbled some words and walked away on Belknap Road.

The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s, 6 feet tall, with short hair and a stocky build. He was wearing dark clothing.

Police are now asking for the public's help finding the man.

"A lot of people will evaluate something they see as insignificant," said Shastany. "Don't discount something that stirs your suspicions. Let us decide."

The zip ties collected by police have been sent to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab in Sudbury to be tested for any DNA or other evidence, the lieutenant said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Framingham Police Department's detective bureau at 508-532-5923.